Badaling Great Wall
#10of 10 places to visit in BeijingBeijing, Beijing Municipality, China
Also known as 八达岭长城
Quick answer
Opening hours: 06:30–16:30 and 07:30–16:00 and 07:30–17:30 and 08:00–17:00. Entry: CN¥40. Allow 3 hrs. Best time: Opening time to 09:00.
Updated · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read
- Opening hours
- 06:30–17:00
- 06:30-16:30 from April to October and 07:30-16:00 from November to March on the Beijing tourism listing; another guide gives 07:30-17:30 in high season and 08:00-17:00 in low season. Hours conflict, so verify at the official site.
- Entry fee
- CN¥40
- Ticket from
- Time needed
- 3 hrs
- Best time of day
- Opening time to 09:00
- Best months
- Apr – May, Sep – Oct
- Address
- Badaling Town, Yanqing District, Beijing 102112, China
About Badaling Great Wall
Badaling Great Wall charges CNY 40 for adult entry in the high season, as of 2026, and sits about 60 to 70 kilometres northwest of central Beijing, making it the closest restored section reachable by train. The accessible section totals about 3.7 kilometres, split into a shorter south section and a longer north section, and the wall runs along the ridge as granite and brick, with a walkway about 5 to 6 metres wide on top, wide enough for several people to walk abreast. Badaling is the busiest section of the Great Wall and shows the marks: stairs polished smooth by feet, packed selfie spots and lines at the cable car. The reward is a fully restored, steep ridge with sweeping views down the valley of the Juyong Pass.
Best time of day: Opening time to 09:00. On a weekday, before Beijing day-trip coaches arrive from about 09:30.
Badaling Great Wall timings
- Opening hours
- 06:30–17:00
Mon–Sun 06:30–16:30 and 07:30–16:00 and 07:30–17:30 and 08:00–17:00 - 06:30-16:30 from April to October and 07:30-16:00 from November to March on the Beijing tourism listing; another guide gives 07:30-17:30 in high season and 08:00-17:00 in low season. Hours conflict, so verify at the official site.
- Closed on
- Open every day
Good to know: A daily visitor cap of around 65,000 applies in peak periods and tickets can sell out online on weekends and holidays.
Opening hours compiled from r.visitbeijing.com.cn and public records, last updated . They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides
Badaling Great Wall ticket price
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard ticket | CN¥40 |
| Concession (student / senior) | CN¥20 |
| Children | CN¥20 |
Entry is CNY 40 per adult in the high season, as of 2026; one listing shows CNY 35 from 1 November to 31 March, another shows a flat CNY 40, so verify at the official site. Children 1.2-1.4 m pay CNY 20 and those under 1.2 m are free. The cable car to the north section is about CNY 140 return and the south-section pulley railway about CNY 100 return. Online real-name tickets are recommended and a daily cap is enforced.
Prices compiled from r.visitbeijing.com.cn and public records, last updated . They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides
Best time to visit Badaling Great Wall
- Quiet
- Moderate
- Busy
- Very busy
06:30 - 09:00
Early accessBest time to go
Independent visitors and photographers reach the north section before coach groups; the wall is quiet.
Quiet09:30 - 12:00
Coach wave
Tour groups from Beijing arrive together; the stairs, watchtowers and cable car queues are dense.
Very busy12:00 - 15:00
Midday crush
Weekend and holiday crowds fill the wall shoulder to shoulder, and the daily cap can sell out.
Busy15:00 - 17:00
Late afternoon
Numbers fall, but the S2 train and bus back to Beijing fill early, so check departure times.
Moderate
History of Badaling Great Wall
Badaling Great Wall dates to 1504 during the Ming dynasty, built to guard Juyong Pass, the northwest gate to the capital, along the Guangou ancient road through the Jundu Mountains. The pass had been fortified before the Ming, but the wall visitors climb is from that period. Its position on the route toward Mongol territory made it one of the strongest garrisoned sections.
Badaling was among the first sections restored after 1949 and opened to the public in 1957. Richard Nixon visited in 1972, and the section's guides report more than 500 foreign leaders have walked it since. The Great Wall as a whole was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, and Badaling was among the earliest state-level protected relics, listed in 1961. Its restoration has drawn criticism, since heavily reconstructed stairs and fresh brickwork make it feel less authentic than unrestored sections such as Jiankou.
Rules & etiquette at Badaling Great Wall
Badaling Great Wall requires a real-name ticket for entry, so book online through the official channel or a reputable platform and bring your passport, particularly on weekends and holidays, when the daily cap sells out. Ticket checks happen at the gate, and staff scan the QR code against the document.
Badaling's north section is steep with long staircases and few rest points, so wear shoes with grip and carry water. Drones are banned near the wall, and large tripods block narrow walkways. Do not carve graffiti into the stone, since fines apply. Vendors near the car park sell souvenirs at inflated prices, and drivers waiting at the exit quote high fares for the return to Beijing, so buy train or bus tickets in advance.
Tips for visiting Badaling Great Wall
- 1
Badaling works best reached by the S2 train from Huangtudian, about 75 minutes and CNY 6 each way, then a 10-minute walk to the gate; trains run at intervals of an hour or two, so check the return time when you arrive. Bus 877 from Deshengmen costs roughly CNY 12 each way and takes 75 to 90 minutes. Either option beats a taxi at peak times, when road queues back up.
- 2
Badaling's north section is the steeper and busier, while the south section is shorter and less crowded and is the better pick for anyone short on time or energy. Travellers who want smaller crowds and a rougher wall should take a car to Mutianyu or a hike to Jiankou instead. Pack a jacket, since wind on the ridge can be sharp even in May and October. Winter visits are much quieter but icy.
How to reach Badaling Great Wall
We haven't pinned Badaling Great Wall's exact position yet; the map shows the other places in our Beijing guide. Use the address below or the directions link.
Badaling Town, Yanqing District, Beijing 102112, ChinaDirections in Google Maps
From Huangtudian station (Beijing)
68 km · 75 min
CNY 6 each way
From Deshengmen (Beijing)
70 km · 75-90 min
CNY 12 each way
From Central Beijing hotel
70 km · 60-90 min
CNY 400-800 return with waiting
Nearest airport
From Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), about 80 km; Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), about 120 km.
Nearest station
From Badaling Great Wall Station on the S2 line, a 10-minute walk to the entrance; trains leave from Huangtudian station in Beijing.
Badaling Great Wall FAQs
How much does Badaling Great Wall cost in 2026?
CNY 40 for adults in the high season, as of 2026; one listing shows CNY 35 for the low season, and the cable car adds about CNY 140 return, so verify at the official site.
How do you get to Badaling from Beijing?
Take the S2 train from Huangtudian station, about 75 minutes and CNY 6 each way, then walk 10 minutes to the gate. Bus 877 from Deshengmen also works, at about CNY 12 each way.
Do you need a passport for Badaling?
Yes. Tickets are real-name, and online booking with passport details is recommended, especially on weekends and holidays when the daily cap can sell out.
Is Badaling or Mutianyu better?
Mutianyu is quieter and more wooded, while Badaling is easier to reach by train and is best for a short trip. Both are fully restored sections.
Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated . How we rank and check places
